Apart from that it looks pretty messy, is there an inherent problem with putting a simple spur in, that plugs into an existing socket with a 3-pin plug? Basically a glorified extension lead, not wiring your whole house - say for some Christmas lights or something where you want to leave the wiring in place but not connected most of the year?
Jury-rigging a spur on a 3-pin plug
- Thread starter MisterBoy
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Wasn't so much the cable type I was thinking about, I'm happy to butcher an extension lead or use some flex-cable.
But if the cables will be left in place I want them tidied away e.g. cable clips or conduits. Dangling loops of cable is fine for a couple of weeks at Xmas, but I want this set up and left in place all nice and tidy. There would be a few lights so I'd need waterproof boxes for junctions, all nicely screwed in place.
But I don't want it permanently wired up so I wondered if it's on a plug, does it just count as an extension even if I have a couple of wired joints?
But if the cables will be left in place I want them tidied away e.g. cable clips or conduits. Dangling loops of cable is fine for a couple of weeks at Xmas, but I want this set up and left in place all nice and tidy. There would be a few lights so I'd need waterproof boxes for junctions, all nicely screwed in place.
But I don't want it permanently wired up so I wondered if it's on a plug, does it just count as an extension even if I have a couple of wired joints?
Provided you used flexible cable of a suitable size, there's no inherent problem with what you suggest, but I don;t really understand what you're trying to achieve ...
... what sort of socket do you intend to use, and is it going to be 'fixed' (to a wall/whatever). If it is suitable, and to be fixed, then what would be the problem of it being permanently 'connected', just like any other spurred socket?
Kind Regards, John
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Firstly, I've already got outside sockets. Secondly I'm concerned that if I 'hard-wire' it, it might technically be notifiable so I wondered if there was a distinction here - if there isn't then as you suggest it makes little difference except having a way to isolate it totally.
Ah, you didn't mention that it was 'outside', although I should have noticed your reference to 'waterproof boxes'.
So, I see no problem with what you want to do - but you'll presumably have to find some 'waterproof' place to house the plug when not in use?
Kind Regards, John
Where are you located? In England, notification is not required even for outside electrics for additions to or extensions existing circuits. (Except in bathrooms, etc)
So you can hardwire it, if you wish.
Eh?
Simply coil the trailing lead up from the socket end and house the plug into the waterproof socket with the lid closed then unwind it to 'plug in the extension'.
If it's of any help I have 4 outside sockets which terminate on 13A plugs in a cupboard alongside 8 13A sockets of which 4 are permanently powered and the others are 2 each on a 2 channel time switch. At Christmas [also blue lights for NHS earlier this year]they are plugged into the time switch.
They are wired with T&E [actually FP200 as I had a load of reel ends] with flex ends for the 13A plugs.
They are wired with T&E [actually FP200 as I had a load of reel ends] with flex ends for the 13A plugs.
I have an outside waterproof socket on the wall at the front of my house. I use it for Christmas lights as well as my pressure washer when I’m washing the drive or car. It’s fed from a switched spur on the wall of the lounge so that we can switch it off from indoors when not needed. The spur is part of the downstairs ring main.
Mmm not too well written
Outside socket wired back to a JB using FP200. flex tails from JB with 13A plug.
Times 4.
Result; lets call them 4 extension leads permanently fitted to house.
I don't think there's much of a physical problem in connecting T+E (certainly 1.5mm², probably 2.5mm²) to a plug (I've certainly done it in my time) but think the bigger issue is that T+E is not really designed to be 'moved about' when in service, so I imagine that would be at least a theoretical risk of a conductor fracture if it were moved about/flexed too much. Having said that, one imagines that, in the sort of situations the OP mentioned, such movement/handling would probably be fairly minimal.
Kind Regards, John
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